Sun Devils Travel To Fresno Thursday

THIS WEEK: Currently riding a four-game winning streak, the No. 10 Arizona State women's basketball team goes back to the place where it had two of its biggest wins of the 2004-05 season when it travels to Fresno, Calif., to take on the Fresno State Bulldogs (Thurs., Dec. 15 @8 p.m. MT). Last March, the Sun Devils defeated Eastern Kentucky (87-65) and Notre Dame (70-61) at the Save Mart Center in Fresno to advance to their first Sweet Sixteen in 22 years.

With a win this week, the Sun Devils would match their best start under head coach Charli Turner Thorne (8-1, 2002-03 season). ASU's best `one-loss' record in school history came during the 1982-83 season when it won 14 of its first 15 games.

RADIO: Thursday night's game can be heard be heard live on KXAM 1310 AM. Valley veteran broadcaster Jeff Munn is in his second year as the voice of ASU women's basketball. Coverage of the game will begin with the pre-game show at 7:30 p.m. MT.

DID YOU KNOW? Arizona State's current No. 10 ranking in this week's USA Today/ESPN coaches poll marks the first time in 22 years that the Sun Devils have cracked the top 10 in one of the major polls. The last time ASU was ranked in the top 10 was when it was No. 10 in the AP poll the week of Jan. 22, 1983. The highest ranking the Sun Devils have ever achieved is No. 9 (AP poll, January 9, 1983).

DID YOU ALSO KNOW? The Sun Devils will be facing one of the nation's toughest schedules in 2005-06. Coming into this week's action, the combined record of the Sun Devils' opponents in 2005-06, including Fresno State, was 50-27 (.649). It will get no easier once the Sun Devils reach the conference season. Entering this week's action, Pac-10 teams were 55-20 against the rest of the country (.733).

ASU HEAD COACH Charli Turner Thorne: The winningest coach in Sun Devil history (154-123), Turner Thorne has led the Sun Devils to a school record six consecutive post season appearances (NCAA Tournament in 2001-02 and 2005, WNIT in 2000, 2003-04 ... Last season, Turner Thorne guided ASU to a 24-10 overall record and its first NCAA Sweet Sixteen appearance in 22 years ... Led her 2001-02 team to a 25-9 record, tying the ASU record for wins in a single season ... Guided ASU to a share of the Pac-10 title in 2001 and the Pac-10 Tournament title in 2002, the first league championships in school history ... Led Northern Arizona University to consecutive winning seasons in 1994-95 and 1995-96, the first coach in school history to accomplish that feat ... As a player, lettered four years at Stanford under Tara VanDerveer ... Graduated from Stanford in 1988 with a bachelor's degree in psychology and later earned her master's degree in education from Washington in 1990. Career Record: 194-163

SERIES HISTORY VERSUS FRESNO STATE: Despite the proximity of the two schools, this will be the first ever meeting between ASU and Fresno State in women's basketball. The Bulldogs come into this week with a 5-2 record and are currently on a three-game winning streak.

ASU DURING ITS CURRENT FOUR-GAME WINNING STREAK ... Averaging 81.0 points per game and has out-scored its opponents by an average of 23.5 points per game. The Sun Devils have jumped out on their opponents early, out-scoring them 175-110 in the first half. In their last four wins, ASU has led by 16 (vs. Mississippi St.), 24 (vs. Memphis), nine (vs. Western Kentucky) and 16 (vs. New Mexico) at the half. In the first half of those four games, ASU has shot 56.2 percent from the field compared to 44.2 percent for the opposition. Furthermore, the Sun Devils are plus-22 (54-32) in the turnover department in the first half of those games and have scored 55 points off those 54 forced turnovers compared to 27 points for their opponents. Shooting 49.4 percent from the field, including 42.9 percent from three-point range. Has made 13 more three-point field goals (21-8) than its opponents. Has made 25 more free throws than its opponents (69-44). Has more than double the number of its opponents assists (92-45). Has out-rebounded its opponents 163-110, an average of +13.3 rebounds per game. The 54 rebounds ASU had vs. Memphis were its most since grabbing 55 vs. UCLA on January 16, 2003 ... Its 24 offensive rebounds were also the most since its 24 offensive rebounds vs. UCLA (1/16/03). Redshirt junior G Jill Noe has led the team in scoring the last four games, averaging 13.5 points per game. She is shooting 59.3 percent during that span, including 56.3 percent from three-point range (9-16). Also averaging double figures the last four games have been senior F Kristen Kovesdy (12.8 points per game, 58.1 percent from the field) and senior F Amy Denson (10.8 points per game, 56.3 percent from the field). Noe, Kovesdy and Denson have shot a combined 57.7 percent (52-90) during that span. Sophomore G Reagan Pariseau has 18 assists to only five turnovers and is shooting 60 percent (6-10), including 80.0 percent (4-5) from three-point range.

HOME SWEET HOME: With their victory over New Mexico on December 6, the Sun Devils extended their regular season home court winning streak to 12 games. The Sun Devils are now 30-2 in regular season home games going back to the 2003-04 season. In those 32 games the Sun Devils are out-scoring their opponents by more than 16 points (71.2 - 54.8) and are shooting almost seven percentage points higher (45.1 - 38.2).

SHOOTING FOR THE TOP: Despite shooting 42 percent in the season's first two games, including 15 percent from three-point range, ASU head coach Charli Turner Thorne insisted that she had no concerns about her team's shooting. It is now easy to see why. Coming into this week's game, the Sun Devils lead the Pac-10 in field goal percent (.489). In their last six games the Sun Devils are shooting 51 percent from the field, including 43.1 percent from three-point range (28-65).

SUN DEVILS REBOUND FROM LOSS (LITERALLY): In their 79-22 loss to No. 8 North Carolina earlier this season, the Sun Devils were out-rebounded by the Tar Heels (38-28), the first time and only time this season that ASU had fewer rebounds than its opponent. Following the loss, ASU head coach Charli Turner Thorne felt it was rebounding that made the difference in the game.

'Our inability to rebound hurt us,' said Turner Thorne. 'We did not box out and do the things we talked about doing when it came to rebounding and that is what made the difference.'

The following night against Mississippi State, the Sun Devils dominated the Lady Bulldogs, winning by a 22-point margin, 70-48. In the rebounding department the Sun Devils responded to Turner Thorne's challenge to rebound better, grabbing 13 more rebounds than the Lady Bulldogs (34-21). In fact the 21 rebounds by Mississippi State are tied for the fewest rebounds by a Pac-10 opponent this season.

The Sun Devils would take it a step further one week later vs. Memphis and Western Kentucky in which they would post their two highest rebound totals of the season. Against Memphis the Sun Devils grabbed 54 rebounds, their most since grabbing 55 vs. UCLA on January 16, 2003. Their 24 offensive rebounds vs. the Tigers were also the most since their 24 offensive rebounds vs. UCLA (1/16/03). The following night against Western Kentucky, ASU tallied 38 rebounds to 27 for the Lady Toppers.

Arizona State enters this week's game No. 2 in the Pac-10 in rebounding margin (+7.9).

KOVESDY NAMED ONE OF 30 FINALISTS FOR BAYER ADVANTAGE SENIOR CLASS AWARD: ASU senior F Kristen Kovesdy was recently named one of 30 finalists for the Bayer Advantage Senior Class Award, which is presented annually to the nation's senior player-of-the-year for NCAA Division I men's and women's basketball. From the list of 30 nominees, a national media committee will select 10 finalists for the award in February as the conference season hits its peak. Those ten names will be placed on the official ballot for a nationwide voting process during the NCAA Tournament in March. Fan balloting will be coupled with results from voting by coaches and media to determine the winner. ASU's all-time leader in field goal percentage, Kovesdy currently leads the Sun Devils in scoring, averaging 13.8 points per game, and leads the Pac-10 in field goal percentage (.603).

FREE THROWS: The Sun Devils have out-scored their opponents 317-260 in the second half this season ... ASU has nine players averaging 10 or more minutes per game ... Jill Noe's 20 points against North Carolina are the most by a Sun Devil in any game this season ... Noe has made almost half (15/31) of ASU's three-point FGs thus far this season ... ASU has had the same starting five in every game this season: Reagan Pariseau (G), Jill Noe (G), Emily Westerberg (F), Aubree Johnson (F) and Kristen Kovesdy (F/C) ... Westerberg leads the Sun Devils in minutes per game, averaging 27.4 ... Among players coming off the bench, freshman G Briann January currently leads the Sun Devils in minutes per game (17.5) ... As a team, ASU is first in the Pac-10 in assists per game (20.83) and third in the Pac-10 in steals per game (11.13) ... The 10 three-pointers ASU hit against Mississippi State is tied for the second most 3s hit by a Pac-10 team this season ... In their eight games the Sun Devils have been led in scoring by four different players -- Noe (3), Westerberg (2), Kovesdy (2), Denson (1).

KOVESDY CLIMBS THE CHARTS: After tying her season best with 18 points in last week's 73-61 win over No. 18 New Mexico, senior F Kristen Kovesdy moved into a tie for 10th place with former Sun Devil Betsy Boardman on ASU's all-time scoring list. Kovesdy now needs one point to pass Boardman for sole possession of 10th place and needs 70 points to pass former Sun Devil Jovonne Smith (1,134 points, 1989-93) for No. 9 on the all-time list.

WHAT'S NEXT? Arizona State head coach Charli Turner Thorne added another great accomplishment to her coaching dossier this week when it was revealed that ASU was ranked No. 10 in the USA Today/ESPN coaches poll. For the Sun Devils it was their first appearance in the top 10 of a major poll in 22 years. If the figure `22 years' sounds familiar it's because last season Turner Thorne led the Sun Devils to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 22 years.

Currently in the midst of her 10th season in Tempe, Turner Thorne has more than established the Sun Devils as one of the teams to watch on an annual basis in the Pac-10 Conference. In fact, since the 2000-01 season, the Sun Devils have won the second-highest number of overall games (109) in the Pac-10 Conference.

Turner Thorne is currently No. 8 among Pac-10 coaches in all-time victories with 154. With seven more wins, Turner Thorne will pass former Oregon head coach Jody Runge for No. 7 on the Pac-10's all-time list. With six more wins, Turner Thorne will earn the 200th overall coaching victory of her career.

#2 Reagan Pariseau A starter in all eight games in 2005, is currently averaging 4.4 points per game. Is currently shooting 60.0 percent from three-point range (6-10). Has 18 assists to only five turnovers during ASU's current four-game winning streak. Played in all 34 games with one start as a freshman. One of four players on the roster from the state of Washington, Pariseau was a high school teammate of current Sun Devil F Emily Westerberg.

#4 Emily Westerberg Is currently third on the team in scoring (11.8 points per game), first in assists (3.1 per game) and second in rebounding (5.1 per game). Entered the week No. 8 in the Pac-10 in field goal percentage (.522) and tied for No. 8 in the conference in steals (2.25 per game). Currently leads the team in minutes, averaging 27.4 per game. Was named to the WBCA/BTI Classic All-Tournament team after averaging 15.0 points and 7.5 rebounds in ASU's season opening wins against Vanderbilt (Nov. 11) and Missouri (Nov. 12). Last season became the second sophomore (Kym Hampton) in school history to earn first-team All-Pac-10 honors. One of four players on the roster from the state of Washington, Westerberg was a high school teammate of current Sun Devil G Reagan Pariseau.

#10 Lavinia Fanika Has played in one game this season, recording three minutes against Memphis (Dec. 2).

#11 Kate Engelbrecht Has appeared in all eight games for Arizona State, averaging 6.6 minutes per game. Is currently shooting 80.0 percent from the field (8-10). Made all five of her shots and had a career-high 11 points vs. Memphis (Dec. 2).

#13 Danielle Orsillo Scored a career-best 16 points (6-11 shooting) in only 18 minutes in ASU's 73-61 victory over No. 18 New Mexico (Dec. 6). Is currently shooting 88.2 percent from the free throw line (15-17). A 2005 graduate of Las Plumas High School in Oroville, Calif., finished her high school career third (3,340 points) on the state of California's all-time scoring list behind Charde Houston and Cheryl Miller. Has played the guitar since she was seven years old.

#15 Cristina Lopez Has appeared in six games this season as she continues to recover from major shoulder surgery she had earlier this year.

#20 Briann January Is averaging the most minutes (17.5) of players coming off the bench, and has played 20 or more minutes in each of the last two games. Entered the week No. 4 in the Pac-10 in free throw shooting at 85.2 percent (23-27). Had a career-best 11 points in ASU's 78-64 victory over Western Kentucky (Dec. 3). One of four players on the roster from the state of Washington, January was an AAU teammate of current Sun Devil G Reagan Pariseau. Holds a black belt in karate. Her father (Barry) is a karate instructor.

#22 Jill Noe A member of the All-Pac-10 freshman team in 2002-03, Noe returned to the starting line-up this year after missing the last two seasons because of ACL injuries incurred before the start of the 2003-04 and 2004-05 seasons. Is currently second on the team in scoring, averaging 12.1 points per game. Has recorded the two highest single-game point totals -- 20 vs. North Carolina (Nov. 25) and 19 vs. Memphis (Dec. 2) -- for ASU this season. Has led the team in scoring during ASU's current four-game winning streak, averaging 13.5 points per game while also shooting 59.3 percent (16-27) from the field during that span, including 56.3 percent (9-16) from three-point range. Currently No. 6 in the Pac-10 in three-point shooting (41.7 percent, 15-36), Noe has tied her career best of four three-pointers twice this season.

#23 Kirsten Thompson Is currently shooting 56 percent from the field (14-25). Tallied a team single-game best four blocked shots vs. Memphis (Dec. 2). One of four players on the roster from the state of Washington, Thompson was the first girls basketball player from the state to be named a McDonald's All-American.

#32 Aubree Johnson A starter in every game this season, is currently shooting 50 percent from the field (22-44) and 80 percent from the free throw line (12-15). Had a season-best 11 points in ASU's victory over Memphis (Dec. 3). Has won the team's academic award each of the last two seasons (was a co-winner last season).

#33 Amy Denson Has appeared in all eight games and is currently averaging 16.9 minutes per game. Is averaging 10.8 points and is shooting 56.3 percent in her last four games. Was named the MVP of the Wells Fargo Holiday Classic after averaging 15 points and 6.5 rebounds in ASU's victories over Memphis and Western Kentucky. Tied her career best with 18 points in ASU's 78-64 win vs. Western Kentucky (Dec. 3).

#34 YoVanna Rosenthal Has appeared in all eight games, averaging 6.8 minutes per game. Had a season-best seven points to go along with three assists in ASU victory over Memphis (Dec. 2). One of three players on the roster (Kate Engelbrecht, Kristen Kovesdy) from Arizona.

#54 Kristen Kovesdy ASU's all-time leader in FG pct. (.568), is currently leading the Pac-10 in FG pct. (.603) and is leading the team in both scoring (13.8 ppg) and rebounding (7.1 rpg). Currently tied for No. 10 with former Sun Devil Betsy Boardman for the most points in school history with 1,065. Needs one point to pass Boardman for sole possession of 10th place and needs 70 points to pass former Sun Devil Jovonne Smith (1,134 points, 1989-93) for No. 9 on the all-time list. Was named the MVP of the season-opening WBCA/BTI Classic after averaging 15.0 points on 63.2 percent shooting and 7.0 rebounds in ASU's victories over No. 16 Vanberbilt (Nov. 11) and Missouri (Nov. 12). Was named to the All-Tournament team of the Wells Fargo Holiday Classic after averaging 14 points and 11.5 rebounds in ASU wins over Memphis (Dec. 2) and Western Kentucky (Dec. 3). One of 30 finalists for the Bayer Advantage Senior Class Award, which is presented annually to the nation's senior player-of-the-year for NCAA Division I men's and women's basketball.